Newton North Versus Newton South: The Battle of Ecological Footprints
Year
Newton North
ecological footprint
per student
Newton South
ecological footprint
per student
2011
2.62 acres
2.54 acres
2012
2013
2014
2015
(1 acre = .405 Hectares)
Calculated using the ecological footprint calculator located at: Here
Every year, the Greengineers (or any other eligible student) will be computing and comparing the ecological footprint of both Newton North and Newton South High School. We hope to see a definitive decrease in the ecological footprints of both schools every year. Through calculating the ecological footprints of Newton North and Newton South High Schools, we will be able to weigh the weaknesses of each school and determine ways to improve them. Later we will share our data and use it to make the proper conclusions. We chose the large topics of building information, recycling, waste, purchased goods, energy use, water use, food, catering and transportation because they are necessary for all of the ecological footprint calculators that we have identified.
An environmental footprint is the calculation of the emissions from a certain place or object. The things that affect the ecological footprint include water usage, food consumption, natural gas emissions, windows, light bulbs, ect. You will be collecting the most recent information available and plugging it into a calculator that will give you the approximate number you will use as the ecological footprint.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR NEXT YEAR: Follow the steps below to fill in the numbers for the calculator:
1. Go to the excel spreadsheet and find all the categories without asterisks next to them. These are the specific numbers that will change over time, while the ones with asterisks, unless otherwise specified, will not change over time.
2. Go through each cell following the directions of the spreadsheet and fill in the numbers. This will take the bulk of your time, and will involve extensive research and communication with resources listed below.
3. These sources are staff at the Education Center in Newton, which handles paying the bills, so they have most of the up to date information you will need. Go to: http://www3.newton.k12.ma.us/centraladmin to get contact info needed for contacts with the information you want
The most useful people to contact are Michael Cronin, and Sandra Guryan. Please note, however, that these people are busy and understaffed so getting replies might take a few days.
Important: you will not be able to find some of the information! We were personally not able to fill in many categories. Do not be worried, just fill in zeros for the information you don’t know for both north and south, and the ratios will not be effected.
4. Report the new number, and fill it in the spreadsheet, then make a graph of the new footprint versus the numbers of previous years.
5. Write a paragraph explaining the changes that have occurred in the ecological footprint of North vs. South over time, and discuss how the footprint can be improved.
Newton North Versus Newton South: The Battle of Ecological Footprints
ecological footprint
per student
ecological footprint
per student
Calculated using the ecological footprint calculator located at: Here
Every year, the Greengineers (or any other eligible student) will be computing and comparing the ecological footprint of both Newton North and Newton South High School. We hope to see a definitive decrease in the ecological footprints of both schools every year. Through calculating the ecological footprints of Newton North and Newton South High Schools, we will be able to weigh the weaknesses of each school and determine ways to improve them. Later we will share our data and use it to make the proper conclusions. We chose the large topics of building information, recycling, waste, purchased goods, energy use, water use, food, catering and transportation because they are necessary for all of the ecological footprint calculators that we have identified.
An environmental footprint is the calculation of the emissions from a certain place or object. The things that affect the ecological footprint include water usage, food consumption, natural gas emissions, windows, light bulbs, ect. You will be collecting the most recent information available and plugging it into a calculator that will give you the approximate number you will use as the ecological footprint.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR NEXT YEAR:
Follow the steps below to fill in the numbers for the calculator:
1. Go to the excel spreadsheet and find all the categories without asterisks next to them. These are the specific numbers that will change over time, while the ones with asterisks, unless otherwise specified, will not change over time.
2. Go through each cell following the directions of the spreadsheet and fill in the numbers. This will take the bulk of your time, and will involve extensive research and communication with resources listed below.
3. These sources are staff at the Education Center in Newton, which handles paying the bills, so they have most of the up to date information you will need.
Go to: http://www3.newton.k12.ma.us/centraladmin to get contact info needed for contacts with the information you want
The most useful people to contact are Michael Cronin, and Sandra Guryan.
Please note, however, that these people are busy and understaffed so getting replies might take a few days.
Important: you will not be able to find some of the information! We were personally not able to fill in many categories. Do not be worried, just fill in zeros for the information you don’t know for both north and south, and the ratios will not be effected.
Go to http://www.epa.vic.gov.au/ecologicalfootprint/calculators/school.introduction.asp and fill in all the numbers into the calculator, (including the zeros for what you don’t know).
4. Report the new number, and fill it in the spreadsheet, then make a graph of the new footprint versus the numbers of previous years.
5. Write a paragraph explaining the changes that have occurred in the ecological footprint of North vs. South over time, and discuss how the footprint can be improved.